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Switzerland beats Cote d’Ivoire by 3 points (30 - 27)

04.02.2018/
created by Nicolas Stepowski

Chens-sur-Léman, 03.02.2018 - Around 150 people came to support the Swiss team, which hosted Cote d’Ivoire at the stadium Marius Berthet in Chens-sur-Léman, for a test-match before the rest of the European Championship.

During the first 20 minutes of the match, the 2 teams observed one another, letting the strikers assume their responsibilities: 3-0 (4 '), 3-3 (8 ') then 6-3 (14 ')The men of Edelweiss were finally the 1st to cross the goal line at the 20th minute of the match with a try of n°15 Liam Kavanagh (11-3); but then the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire began to dominate more and more the impacts. And it was rather logically that the number 6 Evrard Oulai dived into the end zone 5 minutes later (25 ') to make the score 11-13 for his team. The end of the first half was difficult for the Swiss who underwent the assaults of the strong players of Cote d’Ivoire; but the men of Olivier Nier and Mathieu Guyou held on until the break.

In the beginning of 2nd half time, the Swiss team applied to make the Ivorians run: faster, more precise, the Swiss quickly scored 2 new tries by n°15 Liam Kavanagh (45 ': 18-13) and n°10 Donovan O' Grady (50 ': 23-13). After a new counter play, further to a ball lost by their opponent in the middle of the pitch, it was n°21 Romeo Vuadens who stood out in corner and widened the gap (55 ': 30-13). At this moment of the match, it was difficult to imagine how the team of Côte d'Ivoire could come back in the match and nevertheless it was exactly at this moment when the elephants woke up: they widely dominated the end of the match and scored 2 more tries by n°20 Dosso Ouambourou (66 ': 30 - 20) and n°15 Ezer Kosse (73 ': 30 - 25). The end of match was difficult for the Swiss, playing 14 against 15: after a last touch, the elephants collapsed on the line but could not ground the ball. Then the referee blew the final whistle with the score of 30 - 27 for Switzerland. (Match sheet in attachment)

As usual, the Swiss team showed their solidarity to resist awesome players of Cote d’Ivoire: a great test before the rest of the Europe Trophy (Portugal - Switzerland on 24.02, Czech Republic - Switzerland on 10.03 and Switzerland - Poland on 17.03 in Plan-les-Ouates).

The Swiss Rugby Union thanks the club of Hermance Région Rugby Club and the city of de Chens-sur-Léman for their warm welcome and the organisation of this test match.